Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said on Monday that the party’s election candidates were not chosen based on their political allegiance or their proximity to senior politicians, but rather on their merit and performance.

The party publicly released its candidates for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, expressing confidence in the party’s selection criteria.

Steenhuisen noted that the entire candidate selection process was created to ensure that meritocracy continued to prevail in the party’s ranks, offering the best people in the country.

The candidates include senior councillor in JB Marks Jeanne Adriaanse, economist at leading think tank Mlondi Mdluli, public sector built environment specialist Edwin Macrae Bath, Deputy Chief Whip of the DA in Ekurhuleni Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, leading community safety activist Ian Cameron, leader of the DA Students Organisation Liam Jacobs, COO of a major communications firm Kabelo Kgobisa, senior Councillor in Mangaung Dulandi Leech, medical doctor Karl le Roux, former Roads MMC in Nelson Mandela Bay Kabelo Mogatosi and Mark Burke.

They will join the DA’s parliamentary and legislative caucuses around the country.

Steenhuisen noted that through the party’s Candidate Selection Programme, conceived and executed by DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille, the DA put the candidates through their paces on a number of different metrics.

He said the DA was guided by its values and principles of freedom, fairness, opportunity and diversity, and its belief in a meritocratic system of appointment.

“We are immensely proud of the diversity of candidates we have attracted, and carefully selected to best represent the hopes and dreams of millions of South Africans, and to rescue South Africa from decades of ANC corruption and decay. By ensuring that these candidates are selected based on merit and performance, the DA has ensured that any potential government configuration after [the national elections] will have the very best South Africans working as legislators for the benefit of all citizens. This includes many current members of Parliament who fight on behalf of our country under the DA banner,” said Steenhuisen.

He added that he also went through the party’s candidate selection process, noting that existing leaders are not exempt from meritocratic process and performance management.

He said as a sign of confidence in the party’s process, the Independent Electoral Commission confirmed on Sunday that none of the candidates on the DA’s lists appeared on the lists of any other political party.

This, he noted, confirmed the candidates’ belief in, and allegiance to the DA, as well as the integrity of the people and the party’s systems and processes.